During recent Pacer Plus trade negotiations, Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilapea Sailele Malielegaoi called on New Zealand unions to consider expanding the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme to areas such as construction and fisheries.
Mr Jones says a pilot fisheries training programme in Kiribati, funded by the New Zealand government, will allow some of its graduates to work in New Zealand.
He says regional leaders are keen to see similar programmes in other parts of the Pacific.
